Como Zoo Celebrates the life and legacy of Arlene Scheunemann long-time advocate, docent, and "Zoo Mama"

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory hosted a gathering on Sunday to celebrate the life of long-time supporter and super mom Arlene Scheunemann, who died last week at the age of 79.

Scheunemann was the dean of Como Zoo's docent society and co-founded the Como Zoological Society-one of the fundraising organizations that eventually grew into Como Friends. She was also a first-class foster mother, hand-raising dozens of tigers, cougars, orangutans and gorillas in her home in the years before Como Zoo had the space and facilities to raise infant animals. Click here to see Saturday's edition of The St. Paul Pioneer Press, which included a slide show of her extended animal family.

"Arlene's compassion for animals and her passion for improving the Zoo was a driving force at Como for nearly five decades," says Jackie Sticha, president of Como Friends, where Scheunemann served on the board until last year. To honor Arlene Scheunemann a memorial fund has been created to support the orangutans and gorillas at Como Zoo, and the conservation efforts that Como zookeepers contribute to in the field. "Though she was a very soft-spoken person, she was a tremendous advocate for Como, and the new Gorilla Forest exhibit is just one of the improvements that wouldn't have been possible without Arlene's great work over the years."

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